Campanula medium Big Ben White Improved coated seeds - Canterbury bells

Campanula medium F1 ‘Big Ben White Imp.’ is a selection of campanula that provides stems covered with white bells, facing upwards, highly sought after for flower beds and cut flowers. The 'Big Ben' series is distinguished by its floribundity, regularity and short growing cycle: it offers a beautiful, bright note in the garden, from late spring to summer.
Sowing is less tricky with coated seeds: the very fine seed is surrounded by a layer of clay or neutral material that gives it volume. It is easier to handle and sow individually.

Belonging to the Campanulaceae family, Campanula medium is the botanical species at the origin of this F1 hybrid cultivar. The Big Ben series is a creation of “Evanthia Genetics”, offered in raw or coated seeds; the mention “White Imp.” means an improvement of the white form. Compared to the type species, Big Ben provides larger, well-erect flowers, better growth uniformity and very good performance in transport and in the vase. The flower stems reach 60–70cm. 
The botanical species C. medium is native to South-Western Europe, naturally present on sunny slopes and rocks in south-eastern France as well as in northern and central Italy. In nature, the plant behaves as a robust biennial: leafy rosette in the first year, flowering in the second. It can be grown as an annual when sown early. 

In 'Big Ben White imp.', the flower stalks bear numerous erect, campanulate corollas 4 to 5 cm wide, with five lobes. The foliage is medium to dark green; the basal leaves are broader and petiolate, the upper ones are lanceolate and sessile. The stiff stems are suitable for cutting and last several days in a vase. The root system of this campanula is a taproot; the plant does not tolerate repotting late. Flowering spans from May to July.

In British cottage gardens, "Canterbury bells" have been grown for centuries for their bell-like flowers; in Italy and Provence, they are still found growing wild on sunny rocky embankments.

‘Big Ben White Imp.’ brings light and elegance to mixed borders, natural-style flower beds and cut-flower beds. Plant it in groups of 5 to 7 plants in the middle of the flower bed, in front of light shrubs, in deep, rich, well-drained soil, in non-scorching sun. To enjoy it longer in the garden or in a vase, sow this campanula at the end of winter and again at the end of summer. Combine it with light blooms: Digitalis purpurea ‘Snow Thimble’ in the background, Delphinium 'Sky Blue-White Bee' for a cool note, Nigella damascena ‘Miss Jekyll Alba’ as a cloud, and Gypsophila paniculata ‘Bristol Fairy’ to lighten both bouquets and flower beds. In a 5 to 7 litre pot, provide a draining substrate and regular watering without excess; the flower stalks will be slightly shorter, but just as generous.